Frequently Asked Questions

What is World Vision? What do you do?

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children, families, and communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

We help transform the lives of the world’s poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries, including the United States, through interventions such as nutrition and safe drinking water programs, poverty relief and community development programs, disaster assistance, and more. Our non-profit work extends assistance to all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnic background.

Unfortunately, no. The items offered in our catalog are planned for projects benefiting children and families and cannot be given to individual sponsored children. If you would like to provide a gift for your sponsored child, please call 1-800-777-5777. To ensure the best stewardship of our field staff’s time and resources, such gifts must be $100 or more. Your gift will be used to purchase the item(s) in the child’s country, saving shipping and other logistical costs. You will then receive an acknowledgement of your gift, stating how the gift was applied.

How will my gift be used?

We promise to use your donation in the most effective way possible. The needs shown in the Gift Catalog reflect World Vision projects at the time the catalog was written, and each item is representative of the gift category in which it appears. Donations will be used to provide assistance where it is needed most within that category or to address a similar need. With the larger items, such as wells, clinics, and schools, World Vision pools donations in order to provide as many wells, clinics, and schools as possible. These items are not matched to individual donors.

Can I send a letter or email my sponsored child?

Yes! Being a child sponsor is also about building a wonderful friendship. Exchanging letters, cards, or emails is a great way to connect with your sponsored child. Be sure to ask your child some questions to get the conversation started! Visit the “Send a Letter” page for ideas on what to write.

You may send letters to your sponsored child at the National Office address located on your child’s picture folder, which you received in your sponsorship welcome kit. You can also find the address by signing in to your My World Vision account and visiting the “Send a Letter” page.

Note: For the protection of the children, sponsors, and our staff, we read letters that are exchanged between sponsors and their sponsored children. The letters are reviewed to ensure people do not threaten children, put their lives in danger, or try to develop inappropriate relationships.

In many of the countries where we work, Christian expression is restricted, so we monitor the letters to make sure nothing written could endanger the child or family. We also review letters to our sponsors to ensure they do not receive inappropriate solicitation of funds from children’s families.

If your sponsored child lives in a country where Christianity is restricted, we will notify you. Please see your Welcome Kit or visit the “Send a Letter” page for writing tips on what topics to avoid.

If you are a corporation that sponsors children, or if you sponsor more than 15 children, please use this special link to email your sponsored children.

Can I change my giving method or provide a new credit card number online?

Yes. After signing into My World Vision, just visit the “My Account” page in the My Giving & Account tab. Under “Payment Options,” select “Manage Automated Giving.” You can add or edit your credit card or bank information.

Be assured that World Vision provides you with a secure online connection to enter your personal information. All web forms requesting your confidential information (such as credit card numbers) on the My World Vision website use “SSL,” an Internet security protocol that encrypts your entered information to make it as safe as possible.

Will I receive a receipt for my gift, and is the gift tax-deductible?

Yes, you will be mailed a receipt for your gift to World Vision. Your gifts are tax-deductible, excluding the amount for shipping and handling charges or the fair market value for any maximum impact items, if applicable.